I was really hoping to get this up earlier, but that didn't work out. I hope I didn't make you all wait too long.
Thank you all for your support and reviews of this story. It is much appreciated and extremely helpful to me. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It shoulde be a good one.
Please enjoy.
Chapter 3
Percy lamented his good night as he dove out of the way of the volley of flaming arrows. None of them hit him, but he felt their heat as they passed by. The arrow heads stuck in the dirt, igniting small fires in the grass around them. Just another problem added to the night. Percy carefully stepped around the fires as he held off and advancing raider. The raider didn't even see to notice the fire. He stepped right into one of the fires as he thrust his sword forward at Percy and he never even flinched. His form was sloppy and Percy easily deflected the attack. These men might have worn Arena armor, but they did not fight like Arena soldiers. There was no rationale behind their movements or the formation in which they chose to advance. It was all too simple to get between their ranks and disrupt them. The soldier inside Percy was insulted. Of course, proper footwork hardly mattered when you were willing to step right into a fire and your opponent had to step around it.
Percy's head was on a constant swivel, looking from his enemy to the ground and back again. Around his feet the fires were growing and in front of him more raiders were pressing on the band of refugees. Whatever it was that fired the arrows, it also carried more raiders. They jumped down from the sides and evened out the numbers between the raiders and refugees. Percy was forced to always be fighting, either one or more enemies at a time. The injury on his side was hurting and wearing him down, even though the raiders barely landed a touch on him. There was so much going on Percy couldn't focus on everything. The one time Percy made a step without quickly looking down where he was stepping, he stepped into the fire.
At first Percy felt only the heat and then the pain bit into his leg. He howled in pain and quickly jumped away, forgetting the person he was fighting. The pain was intense as he beat out the flames. His pant leg was burned away just below the knee and the skin below was bright red and angry. His foot was better protected by the leather of his boot, but he was going to need a new one if he was going to be marching. Other than the pain Percy figured he could still walk on it. It only took him a few seconds to register all of this, but he didn't recover fast enough to dodge the hilt of his enemy's sword. It slammed into his head with enough force to blot his vision and knock him to the ground. Percy's head landed close to the edge of another fire. The fear of being burned again filled him with rage. Percy pushed himself up faster than his enemy could bring his sword down again and rammed his own sword through the raider's gut.
Percy pulled his sword out of his now dead enemy and scanned the area to judge how much the fires had spread. The damage wasn't too terrible. The fires were still a safe distance away from the wagon and most of the refugees, but it grew like a wall, splitting up the group, and only the raiders were crazy enough to walk through it. The fire didn't hurt the raiders. Percy didn't notice it before, but the fire didn't catch their clothes and burn it up. Even if it did, it was only small and was quickly extinguished by the wind created by the raiders' movements. Percy wondered why that was, but he didn't have the time to contemplate it. There was still fighting going on and something had to be done about the fires. Percy caught sight of his mother helping the ones who couldn't fight to a safer area and he called out to her.
"Mother! These fires need to be put out!" At first Sally looked like she didn't understand. Then she quickly reorganized the group around her. The refugees went to the back of the wagon and started pulling out the water barrels. They had brought them along for emergency drinking water if none could be found on their journey. Percy didn't like to use it all up now, but this was an emergency as well. Trusting that his mother could handle the situation, he turned his attention back to the raiders.
The refugees were holding back the raiders decently. The fight was even and there was no advancement from either side. The refugees had no qualms about cutting down their enemy, whereas the raiders seemed to only want to knock out their targets. They struck only with the flats of their blades or the hilt. It was like they wanted to take everyone alive. No, that was exactly what they wanted. Percy remembered their first attack was mostly an attempt to drag away the people that were sleeping on the edges of the camp. The memory brought something else back as well. A small detail that he didn't think much of at the time. The raider who was dragging away that first girl had a tattoo on his right arm identical to that of Percy's. Not just the crossed scythes that every solder had, but the unit number under it as well. These men once belonged to the same regiment as Percy. He felt a little sick as he thought through the situation.
After he killed Ethan he had sent these men out on their own with no leadership. Percy had faith they found their regiment, but something else had to happen. He had the feeling these men had never returned to the city since he last saw them. Whatever broke these men's minds was somewhere out there in the countryside. It had to be terrible if it turned skilled fighters into an unorganized mob, doing the only things their minds could still grasp- fighting, raiding, and taking slaves. The three things that would have been drilled into their heads as soon as they left the Arena as full-fledged soldiers. Percy felt somehow responsible for their fate even though he didn't know what happened to them. If Percy was right then the raiders weren't important. It was the structure behind them that needed to be destroyed. It would leave these men without a leader once more, but it might help them. The only problem was that Percy hadn't the slightest clue what the structure was.
Percy could make out more details of it now that the fires had grown and added more light to the night. It was a giant boat-like wagon that looked like it came out of a nightmare. The thing was armed with so many weapons it could have served as an armory for a small city. Percy could see teams of men working various cranks that wound the structure's ballistics weapons. The raiders only fired their tension powered crossbows and javelin throwers that could launch heavy darts farther than any man could ever throw. There were larger weapons toward the back of the structure that looked like they could be used to break down city walls. The sides of the structure were armed with giant blades that would cut down any person or thing that attempted to run up beside the thing. All of that was on the surface. Percy figured there had to be more below deck. If not weapons, then more crazed soldiers. Whoever built this thing only had one thing in mind. Siege. How could they fight something that was designed to take cities?
"What are you doing?" A voice growled beside Percy. He whipped around with his sword raised, and found Clarisse. She was covered in dirt and sweat. Her body showed multiple signs of being beaten, but nothing serious. She had a scowl on her face as she looked at Percy. He knew he deserved it. He had let himself get distracted in the middle of fight. However, at least he had an ally that was close to him.
"Clarisse, we need to take that thing out." Percy pointed with his sword toward the siege machine. Clarisse looked ready to slice Percy in half, but a fresh volley of arrows reminded her that he wasn't her enemy.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Percy hadn't thought of that. He quickly scanned over the monstrous structure once more. It had three sets of wheels at the bottom, rope ladders draped over the sides, and torches ringed around the edges that weren't lit. None of that was very helpful. Then Percy noticed something he hadn't before. The front of the structure was opening up like a draw bridge. It must be how they moved supplies in and out easily.
"There. We get inside and take it apart from there. I think most of the soldiers are outside." Clarisse nodded and together they charge the structure. It didn't take long before Percy was breathing heavily. His side felt like it was ready to burst and his leg felt like it was still on fire if not worse. He couldn't turn back, though, not with Clarisse with him. All he could do was grit his teeth and hope taking the siege machine wouldn't be that difficult. It was only wishful thinking.
Percy and Clarisse were almost to the structure when everything took a turn for the worst. The front of the structure was now completely open. From it sprang a blast of fire followed by more raiders armed with barbed nets. All of the refugees were startled by the sudden flames. They all pulled back from the fire like it physically repelled them. Seconds after another volley of arrows streaked through the air. A few of the arrows stuck in some of the people who had not recovered from their previous shock. Everyone else was immediately forced to duck for cover. The raiders with their nets swarmed forward at that moment, impatient with how long it was taking to capture the refugees.
The nets went out around the largest group of girls first. Annabeth was in that group. She tried to use her weapon to knock down the nets before they could entangle anyone as others tried to run away. It didn't work. Annabeth just ended up getting caught in the barbs and those who tried to run were stopped by walls of fire. Percy suddenly realized with horror that the nonsensical attacks of the raiders actually made quite a bit of sense. They were just too complex to be recognized immediately. It wasn't that the raiders let their formation be broken easily; they let people through as it suited them so they could divide the refugees. The fires they started also helped to contain the refugees. Percy was unable to run and help as Annabeth and his other friends were being dragged back towards the siege machine. They couldn't free themselves because if they tried to struggle the barbs of the net would dig into their skin. Next to him Clarisse yelled in outrage and began violently hacking down any raider that was stupid enough to approach. Percy was grateful for it, though. There was one thing left for him to try and Clarisse had cleared a path.
The front of the structure was still open. The raiders were dragging their full nets back towards the opening for loading. All Percy had to do was get there and find a way to close it, but his plan wasn't thought through. He dashed toward the structure and his body felt hot. It was internal and not from the heat of the fires around him. The harder he pushed himself the more his head began to ache. His body was reaching its limit, but he couldn't stop. The net that Annabeth was in was already half way up the ramp. Percy tried to reach her, but he was thrust backwards by the any raiders that guarded the opening. He couldn't break through them to stop their comrades from dragging away his friends. He was too weak and his sword was slipping in his sweaty hands. One of the raiders landed a heavy kick square on Percy's chest and sent him flailing
Percy hit the ground and couldn't get back up. The air rushed out of his lungs and the hot air around him did not refill them very well. He gaged as he scrambled to his knees. Clarisse tried her hand at getting to the captured refugees, but she fared no better. No one could get by and the last of the nets were being loaded into the structure. The raiders began to withdraw now that they had gotten what they wanted. Percy had lost his sword and standing made him dizzy, but he wasn't ready to give up. Standing up on shaky legs, he made on last dash toward the structure. The opening was nearly shut and Percy had to jump to catch the edge. Percy tried to pull it down or pull himself up to get in. Then the structure jolted and he fell back down the ground. The thing was beginning to move.
Percy didn't get back up this time. He stayed on the ground as the siege machine began to pick up speed and roll away. The raiders fired off one last volley of arrows. It was a warning that they shouldn't be followed. Percy didn't know what was worse, the pain from the loss of Annabeth and his friends or the shame that he failed them. He almost wished that he could just lay there until the fires spread over him. He didn't put much thought behind that cowardice. It was just a moment's fancy- fleeting and soon forgotten. Still he remained unmoving on the ground until a figure loomed over him and began to pull him to his feet.
It was Chris who came to help him. He allowed Percy to lean his weight on him. He led Percy through the fires to where the remainder of the refugees had gathered. They had moved the wagon and themselves away from the fires. A few people were still trying to put out the fires. Everyone was shaken n one way or another. It was a sad sight and even though the over half of them were still together, the quarter that was taken left a huge gap.
"Hey, Chris, did you see?" Percy asked, referring to the tattoos on the raiders' arms. Chris looked at Percy with a solemn expression.
"Yeah, I saw."
"What do you think happened?"
"I don't know. But I think we should keep it to ourselves," Chris said quietly. "At least for now." Percy nodded and resisted the groan it brought on. Sally rushed up to Percy and took him off of Chris' hands. Percy was relieved to see his mom was still okay. Of course, she had stayed out of most of the fighting.
"Oh, Percy, are you okay?" Percy's mother fretted over the knot on Percy's head and the burn on his leg. "You should sit down," she advised.
"Mom, it's fine. There's worse things," Percy stated bitterly. Sally frowned and looked out at the horizon. The sun was beginning to come up, but it didn't see very bright. Not with the strange siege machine heading towards it, carrying Annabeth away from him.
"I suppose you're right." A sudden rage filled every inch of Percy. It coursed through his veins and refueled his aching muscles. The siege machine wasn't far. He wasn't dead. There was still something that he could do.
"Tyson," Percy called out, his voice strong. The large Delphi guard picked up his head. The poor guy was just standing around, shuffling his feet and staring at the ground. His body language told Percy that Rachel had been captured. Tyson had failed on his first time away from the other guards. It reminded Percy of himself and steeled his resolve to go after the raiders.
"Y-yes?"
"The wagon, take everything out of it and put it somewhere safe." Percy pushed himself away from his mother despite her protests and confused expression. Tyson immediately got to work, happy to have orders. Percy started to make his way over to the wagon, but Thalia got in his way. She was limping slightly and her clothes were disheveled. The glare on her face was deadly.
"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded vehemently.
"There's no way a full wagon is going to catch that thing. I'm going after them," Percy answered.
"You're crazy. There's no way you're going to be able to stop them. You'll abandon all of us here," Thalia shouted back. Percy tried to push past her and she reared back her fist. It crashed into Percy's cheek so hard he nearly doubled over, but he was determined to get to the wagon. He had fallen enough that night.
Percy looked Thalia directly in the eye. "I will not abandon them!" He thrust his finger in the direction of the siege machine. He didn't know what compelled him so strongly. Maybe he was just tired of losing his friends, even those he barely had. Or maybe he just felt responsible for the crazed men. Thalia still wouldn't let Percy by. They stood only inches apart and glared at each other, eye to eye.
"Are we going?" Tyson asked timidly from the side. He was a strong man and worked quickly. The wagon was already emptied and the supplies were stacked neatly to the side. Thalia let out a tense breath through her nose and turned sharply away from Percy.
"Yes, we're going," Thalia answered.
"Does that mean you're coming too?" Percy didn't try to hide the smirk on his face.
"Shut up." Percy didn't risk saying anything more. He simply hopped up on the back of the wagon after Thalia. Tyson took the reins and was ready to lead them out.
"Hey, wait up," Travis called out. It looked like he was nursing a severe shoulder wound, but there was a brave smile on his dirt covered face. "We're going too." Travis stood with Chris, Clarisse, and a few other tattered refugees. All of them had their weapons raised and determination hardened their faces. Percy smiled at all of them and stuck out his hand. Travis took it and climbed onto the back of the wagon. As soon everyone was on Tyson snapped the reins.
"Mom, take care of everyone," Percy instructed his mother over his shoulder as they rode away. She gave a nod of her head to show she understood. "We'll be back soon." Percy wasn't sure if he was trying to assure his mother or himself.
The wagon shook and rattled as it raced across the land. Percy didn't think Tyson could push the horses any faster. He was surprised they were even going this fast after having pulled a heavy wagon for three days. Percy thought perhaps the horses understood their situation and were just as determined to catch the siege machine as the refugees. It wouldn't be long now before they caught the monstrosity. Things would be different this time around. Percy knew what to expect of the raiders now. He knew what needed to be done. Plus, this time Percy was filled with a fierce vengeance. He would not and could not fail this time. His friends' lives depended on it. More importantly, Annabeth needed him. Percy's knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of the wagon. His eyes trained ahead on his target. He kept repeating the same thing over and over inside his head. He would not fail.
